Table Of Contents
- What is Incisional Hernia?
- What are the causes of Incisional Hernia?
- What are the symptoms of Incisional Hernia?
- Reducible Vs Irreducible Hernias
- How is Incisional Hernia diagnosed?
- What are the treatment methods of Incisional Hernia?
- Bottom-line
What is Incisional Hernia?
If a doctor makes an incision through your belly button during surgery, you may develop an incisional hernia later. Tissue can pierce a surgical wound that hasn’t healed completely. If not treated, it can cause more serious complications, just like groin hernias. Surgery is the only method to fix them, but they can be difficult to treat.
What are the causes of Incisional Hernia?
An incisional hernia happens when your abdominal wall does not close properly after surgery, incisional hernias develop. Your abdominal muscles become weak as a result which causes tissue and organs to bulge and produce a hernia.
Several factors obstruct the surgical cut’s ability to heal effectively, including:
- Becoming pregnant before the wound has healed completely
- Resuming physical activities too quickly after surgery
- Too much strain on your abdomen
At times, there isn’t always a clear explanation as to why a surgical wound doesn’t heal properly.
What are the symptoms of Incisional Hernia?
Following are signs and symptoms of an incisional hernia:
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fever
- Burning or aching near the hernia
- Rapid heartbeat than usual
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Thin, narrow stool
- Abdominal pain and discomfort, especially around the hernia
Hernias happen after an emergency operation or surgery that calls for a major incision. The incision may not heal well if the edges of the wound are not properly aligned and sewn after surgery, thus increasing the risk of a hernia. The sewing method to close the incision also has an impact on the hernia.
Reducible Vs Irreducible Hernias
There are two types of hernias – Reducible and irreducible hernias.
- Irreducible hernias occur when a section of your intestine pulls into the hernia, and it can be difficult to force the hernia back in. Irreducible hernias can cause intestinal blockage, which can lead to strangulation. This necessitates immediate
- Hernias are reducible and can be pushed back in. They may shrink when you lie down.
If the bulge has become dark red or purple, or if you are experiencing extreme pain, contact your healthcare physician immediately.
How is Incisional Hernia diagnosed?
A medical practitioner will diagnose using a variety of techniques to detect an incisional hernia, but usually, they will start by checking your medical history and conducting a physical examination.
The blood supply to the intestine can be cut off (strangulation) if the projecting section of the intestine becomes caught (incarcerated) within the abdominal wall, leading to severe complications such as necrosis (tissue death). Additional diagnostics include:
- Check for blockage or the exact site of the intestinal projection using ultrasound, MRI, CT, or other imaging techniques.
- Blood tests to check for any infections due to the blockage or necrosis in the intestine
- If the health care professional senses the rupture has caused the movement or protrusion of organs other than the intestines, other methods may be done.
What are the treatment methods of Incisional Hernia?
Your doctor will select the best solution for an incisional hernia depending on a variety of criteria, including your overall health, anatomy, the size and location of the hernia, and your preferred level of subsequent physical exercise. The treatment will also be determined by how much the hernia has harmed the initial surgery’s results, prompting extra surgeries before the hernia can be closed. Generally, treatment will require one of two types of surgeries:
Open hernia repair
The surgeon will create an incision in the abdomen above the hernia and pushes the bulging intestine back into the abdomen, and closes the opening in the muscular wall. This procedure is known as herniorrhaphy. The problematic spot is treated and reinforced using steel mesh or wire in a process known as hernioplasty.
Laparoscopic repair
The surgeon makes multiple small incisions in the lower abdomen and then inserts a tube-like device called a laparoscope that has a camera into one of the incisions. This is a minimally invasive surgical technique. The surgeon has a huge monitor where the internal images are displayed. He/She will use these images to direct small devices placed into the other incisions to treat the hernia.
Bottom-line
Even though incisional hernias aren’t always problematic, it is best to have a follow-up checkup with your healthcare practitioner. In some cases, a surgical correction may be required to avert future complications.
Many people are fully recovered from hernias using mesh patches and are free from recurring hernias.
